Peach tree--David Sun

ABSTRACT

A peach tree, denominated &#34;David Sun&#34;, producing very firm yellow fleshed cling fruit having a skin of very high dark red to bright yellow color ready for harvest about June 1 and reaching full maturity about June 4.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peachtree, denominated "David Sun", which is a newly found seedling of the"June Lady" peach tree having cling fruit of very high dark red tobright yellow color, very firm yellow flesh and good flavor reachingpicking ripeness about June 1 and full maturity about June 4 at Del Rey,Calif.

A variety of attributes can enhance the commercial value of tree fruit.Such characteristics as early ripening, bright skin color, large size,good flavor, low acidity, tight flesh, keeping quality and the like mayall play a part in determining the market value of tree fruit. It is,however, quite unusual for tree fruit to excel in more than a few suchcharacteristics.

There are other characteristics which are more directly related to thecommercial value of the trees themselves in that the production of thetree fruit is made easier. Thus, such characteristics as tree size,vigor of growth, the holding quality of the fruit on the trees,resistance to breakdown in the fruit and in the trees themselves,ripening dates, storage and shipping quality and the like may makecertain varieties of trees more desirable than others. Again, it isquite unusual for tree varieties to excel in more than a few suchcharacteristics.

The variety of peach tree of the present invention is distinct fromother varieties of peach tree known to the applicant in that it excelsin a prodigious number of these characteristics. The fruit ripens earlyand holds very well on the tree, as well as having a long storage life.The fruit is of the cling type and will not breakdown on its suture orapex. Furthermore, the fruit is distinctive in that it has a very highcolor with very firm yellow flesh having good flavor and low acid taste.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The new variety of peach tree of the present invention was discovered byme in 1977 and is a newly found seedling of the "June Lady" peach tree.Seeds of the "June Lady" peach tree were planted in the nursery of H. P.Metzler & Sons at 5286 South Del Rey Avenue, Del Rey, Calif. 93616 in1975. The first fruit of the variety of the present invention wasobserved in 1977 and its distinctive characteristics discovered at thattime.

The new variety was asexually propagated under my direction at H. P.Metzler & Sons in 1978 by grafting a number of seedlings with scionsfrom the newly discovered seedling. The grafted seedlings were in 1978planted in a test nursery of H. P. Metzler & Sons at Del Rey, Calif. Theseedlings of the new variety were observed in the test nursery overseveral growing seasons and tree and fruit characteristics resultingfrom such asexual reproduction proved to be identical to those of theoriginal seedling of the new variety.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The new variety of peach tree of the present invention is characterizedby its cling fruit having a skin of very high dark red to bright yellowcolor, very firm yellow flesh and good flavor reaching picking ripenessabout June 1 and full maturity about June 4 at Del Rey, Calif., thefruit being still further characterized by its excellent holding qualityon the tree and by its excellent storage and shipping quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is a color photograph of four mature fruit ofthe instant variety, one positioned to show the side having the suture,a second positioned to show the stem cavity, a third positioned to showthe apex and a fourth sliced along its longitudinal axis with the pitleft in place. A representative twig is also shown in the photographwith the upper sides of characteristic leaves exposed. The lower side ofa characteristic leaf is also shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new anddistinct variety of peach tree, the following characteristics wereobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing at the nursery of H.P. Metzler & Sons at Del Rey, County of Fresno, State of California andis an outlined description thereof. All major color code plateidentifications are by reference to the Color Name Chart of theInter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards.

TREE

Size: Normal.

Vigor: Very vigorous growth.

Productivity: Very good.

Regularity of bearing: Consistently bears well.

Trunk: Normal peach tree trunk with 12 to 14 medium size lenticels persquare inch. Color of trunk is normal for peach tree (62-d.g.y. Br.).

Branches: Normal peach tree branches with 12 to 14 medium size lenticelsper square inch and of same color as trunk (62-d.g.y. Br.).

Leaves:

Average length.--71/4 inches [18.415 cm.] to 73/4 inches [19.685 cm.].

Average width.--11/2 inches [3.81 cm.] to 13/4 inches [4.445 cm.].

Shape.--Lanceolate.

Margin.--Serrate.

Color.--Upper side (137 d.y.g.). Lower Side (125 d.ol.G.).

Petiole.--Approximately 1/2 inch [1.27 cm.] in length and 1/6 inch[0.4233 cm.] in width.

Stem glands.--Reniform. Two of medium size opposed at base of leaf.Color (106 1 01).

Flower buds:

Size.--Small 1/4 inch [0.635 cm.] in length and 3/16 inch [0.47625 cm.]in diameter.

Shape.--Round with stamen showing before bud opens.

Flowers:

Date of bloom.--About March 5 to March 9.

Size.--1/4 inch [0.635 cm.] in length and 3/16 inch [0.47625 cm.] indiameter, each petal.

Color.--Dark pink in general. Outer edge of petal (2.S pink). Center ofpetal (4-1 pink).

FRUIT

Maturity: Reached at Del Rey, in the San Joaquin Valley of Californiaabout June 4. Picking date is about four days after the Kern Sun peachtree or about June 1.

Size: Diameter 21/2 inches [6.35 cm.] to 3 inches [7.62 cm.]. Averagediameter in suture plane about 23/4 inches [6.985 cm.]. Average diameterin plane normal to suture plane about 23/4 inches [6.985 cm.].

Form:

Uniformity.--Good.

Symmetry.--Good.

Suture.--Smooth and very slight extending from base to apex about 33/4inches [9.525 cm.].

Ventral surface.--Rounded to slightly flat.

Stem cavity.--Rounded, 3/4 inch [1.905 cm.] in diameter and 3/8 inch[0.9525 cm.] in depth.

Apex.--Rounded to slightly flat.

Base.--Medium wide and flat.

Pistil point.--Very small and slightly receded.

Stem:

Size.--Length 5/16 inch [0.79375 cm.] and width 1/8 inch [0.3175 cm.].

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Smooth, tough texture and tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None.

Pubescense.--Light.

Color.--Dark red (14 v.d. Red) to bright yellow (82 v.y.).

Flesh:

Color.--Yellow (83 brill y.).

Surface of pit cavity.--Not freestone.

Color of pit well.--(83 brill y.).

Aroma.--Slight.

Flavor.--Mild, very low acid flavor.

Fibers.--None.

Ripening.--Even.

Eating quality.--Good, has mild flavor and low acid taste for an earlypeach.

Stone:

Type.--Not freestone.

Fibers.--None.

Size.--Length 13/8 inches [3.4925 cm.], width 11/8 inches [2.8575 cm.]and thickness 1 1/16 inches [2.69875 cm.].

Form.--Normal peach pit, rough with ridges running on longitudinal axes.Stem end flat with slight point at apex. Slight ridge at base withslightly more ridges on top extending from base to apex.

Color.--(89 p.y.).

Ridges.--Rounded about 1/16 inch [0.15875 cm.] or less in height.

Use: Fresh market.

Keeping quality.--Fruit will hold very well on tree and at least threeweeks in storage.

Shipping quality.--Very good, easy to handle with tight flesh and skintenacious to flesh.

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the describedcharacteristics as a result of the growing conditions in Fresno County,Calif., in the central portion of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to beunderstood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristicsincident to the growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest controland other horticultural practices are to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of peach tree, whatis claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. Anew and distinct variety of peach tree substantially as illustrated anddescribed broadly characterized by its cling fruit having a skin of veryhigh dark red to bright yellow color, very firm yellow flesh havingexcellent holding quality on the tree, as well as its shipping andstorage quality, and ripening for harvest about June 1 and reaching fullmaturity about June 4 in the San Joaquin Valley of California.